Extension table with pivoted leaf stored below top



United States Patent 1 C m13,524,416

[72] lnvento rs Franz Hero [56] References Cited Im Baumgarten 8630 Tann-Ruti, Zurich, UNlTED STATES PATENTS Switzerland;

Karl Oderma, 1m Baumganen 8630 1,473,323 11/1923 Schimmel 108/69 Tann-Ruti, Zurich, Switzerland; Walter ilmmerman' log/84X Miiller 1m Hofli 8714 Feldbach Zurich OS/69X 2,699,975 1/1955 Ranney 108/67 Switzerland 1 p 745,321 FOREIGN PATENTS [22] Filed July 1 1968 96,551 8/1960 .Norway 108/93 [451 Paemed 1 072 794 3/1954 France 108/65 [32] Priority July 19, 1967 gzf ggg g Primary Examiner Marvin A. Champion Assistant Examiner- Ian A. Calvert Attorney-Singer, Stern and Carlberg [54] EXTENSION TABLE WITH PIVOTED LEAF STORED BELOW TOP 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 108/76 ABSTRACT: An extension table has a pull-out main table [51 Int. Cl A47b 1/04 top and a unitary leaf pivotally mounted below the main table [50] Field of Search 108/65, 69, top and near one end of the table for swinging into the space 71, 76, 84, 93 freed by the main table top pulled out.

"I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I .H l I I I I 1 I I I I I L ru I I M" "I I k. m w, m, 9, 1 n w a. wn M r J Fr Lil'llllll' I'll lllllllll'll IIIIIIIIII Patented Au 18, 1970 EXTENSION TABLE WITH PIVOTED LEAF STORED BELOW TOP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to an extension table having a pullout main table top which can be enlarged by a pivotal leaf.

The main table tops of prior-art tables of this kind are usually divided in the middle. The top is enlarged by pulling out each table top half, and then unfolding the leaves located below, which are customarily constructed in two parts. The construction of extension tables of this sort is relatively complicated and their manufacture expensive. Moreover, their manipulation is not simple, and usually requires two persons. In addition, these tables must stand free of walls, since each half of the main table top must be pulled out at the respective ends of the table, in order that the leaves can be unfolded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The purpose of the invention is to provide an extension table that can be very simply manipulated by a single person and which can be manufactured at less cost than the extension tables of the prior art. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the extension table has the advantage that it can be enlarged while one end of the table is against a wall, as is often the case in small rooms.

An object of the invention is an extension table having a pull-out main table top and an underlying leaf which can be pivoted into position in the free space left by the pulled-out main table top.

This and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be described, with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a side view, partly in cross section, of the upper part of the extension table of the invention, with the supplementary leaf stored;

FIG. 2 is a side view, partly in cross section, of the table extended;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the table; and

FIG. 4 is a top view of the table, in which one half of the table top is shown extended and the other halfis not.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The table of the invention incorporates four legs I, which are T-shaped in cross section and connected together by longitudinal and transverse frame members 2 and 3, respectively. The main table top 4, preferably made of synthetic resin plastic, is slidably supported between the two longitudinal frame members. To this end, each frame member 2 embodies a longitudinal groove 5 in which slide a plurality of lugs inserted in each side of the top 4. Stops 7 are mounted on the under surface of the top 4 and come to bear on the one transverse frame 3 (the left one as seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4) when the top 4 is pushed in, in order to prevent the latter from being moved beyond its normal position.

The supplementary table top leaf 8 is mounted in the longitudinal frame members 2 to pivot eccentrically by means of two fittings 9. As shown in FIG. I. the leaf 8 is normally positioned, or stored, in the free space below the top 4 and between the frame members 2, and bears against stops 10, which are mounted on the inner wall surface of the frame members 2. To enlarge the table top, the main table top 4 is pulled out to the right (as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2), the leaf8 subsequently being turned through approximately 180 so that it is brought into the position shown in FIG. 2. Fittings with connecting pins II are fixed to the underside of the leaf 8. If

the pulled-out top 4 is pushed left against the front end of the leaf 8, the pins 11 are caused to enter holes in the stops 7 so as to prevent the leaf 8 from swinging. When the leaf 8 is pivoted out, the left end thereof (as seen in FIG. 2) rests on felt pads 12 on the transverse frame member 3. Stops I3 mounted on the under surface of the main table top 4 limit the extent to which the latter can be pulled out.

The table top is enlarged in three simple steps, which can be carried out by a single person: the main table top is pulled out to its maximum extent; the leaf 8 is pivoted out; and the main table top is pushed in until it abuts against the front end of the leaf. The same steps in the opposite order reduce the table top to its original size. Thus, the extension table of the invention can be placed with one end (the left as seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4) against a wall without interfering with its extension or contraction.

The top half of FIG. 4 shows the table described above in the extended condition, i.e. with the extension leaf 8 pivoted to the position where its top surface is flush with the top surface of the one-piece table top 4 which in turn is in the position where its left-hand end edge is in engagement with the edge of the extension leaf 8 and the pins 11 and stops 7 are in latching engagement. The bottom half of FIG. 4 represents the condition of the table in which the extension leaf is in its storage position below the one-piece table top 4 and the latter is in its unextended position where it covers the transverse frame members 3 and conceals the extension leaf 8.

Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, the scope of, and the breadth of protection afforded to, the invention is limited solely by the appended claim.

We claim:

1. An extension table, comprising:

a one-piece table top,

a leg-supported frame including parallel longitudinal side members extending along the side edges of said onepiece table top and being interconnected by transverse members on which said one-piece table top is supported,

a longitudinal groove in the inwardly facing edge surface of each of said longitudinal frame members,

a plurality of lugs secured to the longitudinal side edges of said one-piece table top and projecting outwardly therefrom into said grooves in the longitudinal frame members, whereby said one-piece table top is slidably displaceable longitudinally of said frame,

stop means secured to the underside of said one-piece table top to limit the displacement of said one-piece table top in both directions by engagement with said transverse frame members,

an extension leaf of the same width transversely of the frame as said one-piece table top and of a length substantially less than that of said one-piece table top,

eccentric pivot means connecting said extension leaf to said longitudinal frame members with the pivot axis extending transversely of the frame and spaced from the top surface of the one-piece table top a distance equal to the distance of said pivot axis from the opposite surface of said extension leaf, so that when said one-piece table top is displaced in said grooves in the direction away from said extension leaf and the latter is pivoted on said pivot means through an angle of approximately said opposite surface of the extension leaf is flush with the top surface of said one-piece table top, and coacting latch means secured to said one-piece table top and said extension leaf in such positions as to automatically interlock when said displaced table top is moved back into engagement with the facing edge of said extension leaf. 

